"My body aches to breathe your breath...
And I would be the one to hold you down
Kiss you so hard I'd take your breathaway&
Into this night I wander, it's morning that Idread.
Another day of knowing of the path I fear totread.
Oh into the sea of waking dreams I followwithout pride.
Nothing stands between us here, and I won't bedenied."
Sarah McLachlan: 'Possession'
From the album: 'Fumbling towards Ecstasy'
Three days. It had been three days since theyhad& how to describe it? Fought? Played? Only three days since hehad instinctively loosed that iron grip on his strength with her -and she had been unharmed! The fact still shook him to the core.Always he had to be so careful with others, especially her. Could itbe true? Lost in thought, Vincent paced the limits of hischamber.
Last night, unable to bear unsubstantiatedspeculation further, he had spoken to Father. Peter would havediscussed Catherine's case with him, since Father was the primary andonly physician Below. He had desperately needed some answers.
Father sighed and slouched back in his chair. Byall rights he should rejoice. Before Catherine had come Below, theodds of winning a chess match with his son were ridiculously high.Now he was well on his way to his second win of the week. He wouldhave been elated if it weren't so obvious that Vincent's mind waselsewhere. "Vincent? Vincent?"
Startled out of his chaotic thoughts, Vincentrefocused on the chessboard before him. It must be his move again.Surveying his choices, Vincent realized that Father had him neatlyboxed in, mate in three moves. Sighing, he reached forward and tippedhis king in defeat. "Congratulations, Father, well-played."
"Stuff and nonsense! By rights I should neverhave won this match." Rising, Father moved his chair to sit closer tohis son, and rested his hand on the broad shoulder. "You're worriedabout Catherine, aren't you?"
Vincent's head jerked away at Father's words,and unconsciously his claws dug into the wooden arms of his chair,adding another series of punctures to the much-abused piece offurniture. "Worried? Yes& and no." Abruptly he rose from hischair and walked to the sideboard to idly examine a book.
Father settled back to wait patiently. Not manypeople knew Vincent as well as he. When he needed to talk aboutsomething personal, he could not be hurried. Vincent would gather histhoughts, and weigh every word before beginning.
"Two days ago, when you followed Catherine andme to my chamber. I& we, were& it was a moment of&"Vincent loosed an explosive sigh. This was not going to be easy. "Wehad been indulging in what you have called horseplay. In the past, inmy youth, when playing with other children in a like manner, I had tobe so careful. I was always conscious of my greater strength, myclaws. I always had to be aware and hold back. But, after you left Irealized that with Catherine I had not held back. At all. Itterrified me! And yet, she was unharmed! Tell me, how this canbe?"
Father nodded slowly. It made sense. "You muststill take great care. But what you have said doesn't surpriseme."
"Why?" Vincent sank back down into his chair andleaned forward intently.
"When Peter discussed with me the changesCatherine has experienced, we made several informed guesses based onexternal evidence. Neither of you has ever undergone any sort ofadvanced medical testing. But as physicians we can both make severalassumptions with a strong degree of certainty. We think that, in bothof you, your bones, your musculature, is denser than an averageperson's. Much denser. That is why it is so hard to inject you with aneedle, and why you can withstand much more physical damage. Knivesdon't cut as deep; bullets do less damage. Although keep in mind youare certainly not invincible, as past events have shown." Fathercringed inwardly. The memories of the many times he had patched uphis son after he had been forced into protecting Catherine, or theirworld, were not pleasant. "I think Catherine's changes have made herthe equal of you, now. Perhaps your& responses have always beeninstinctively geared to someone like yourself. Someone withCatherine's present capacity to withstand them."
Silence fell, as Father watched his soncontemplate the implications of that possibility.
Vincent turned over Father's remembered words.Reluctantly, he recalled the incident in the catacombs, when he hadbeen so sure his claws would not harm her. Was it only three weeksago? He had
Ceasing his pacing, Vincent settled down intohis well-worn chair and pulled his journal towards him.
What to believe? My mind is in turmoil. Thatpart of me that is instinct assures all is well, that my attentionscannot harm Catherine. It urges me to go to her and take what I want.What she wants as well. Even Father's words seem to confirm this istruth. The temptation& I can barely pass her in the tunnelswithout reaching for her, giving no thought to consequences or evenlocation. Her scent, it continues to change, each day becoming richerand sweeter. I feel it tear my walls of resolve.
And yet& how does one shake the fears ofa lifetime? What if they are not unfounded? What if that wonderfulmoment here in this chamber was some sort of fluke? Or am I justscrambling for excuses, in fear that all that I am will not besufficient? Can anything exist which will make the losses Catherinehas suffered, due to her changes, easier to bear? The profoundalteration is not my fault, but yet is, for if I did not existCatherine might still be human.
Last night was& difficult. She was there,at story hour. The children love her even more now. Eric especiallyis drawn to her. As am I. I must remember how strange this must seemto her, and how she struggles to reconcile what her life has become.For her, I wish she were unchanged, able to live her life Above, toenjoy all that world can offer. And yet, I cannot deny her new andunique beauty. Is this so wrong? Her scent, the wilder aspect I sensethrough our bond, draws me, more powerfully than ever. Would shewelcome this knowledge?
All I know is that I grow weary of questions,and of struggle.
Vincent set his pen down and replaced hisjournal in its customary drawer. For a moment his eyes strayed to thenew addition to his chamber. Yesterday's project. A piece of adiscarded theater curtain had been strung across the entrance; theheavy and faded red fabric now providing a thick, opaque barrier. Wasit too obvious? Was it hoping for too much? That someday, somedaysoon, the privacy it provided might be wanted?
Resolutely, Vincent rose and departed for thedining hall. Evening meal had been announced over the pipes more thanan hour ago. It was time to stop hiding.
The dining hall crowd was beginning to thin asCatherine lifted the last of the heavy kettles and carried it to theserving station. A tingle of pride rose within her at the feat. Itusually took William and another strong person to lift the huge ironpots when full. She had to suppress a grin as an image of her in bluetights and a red cape popped to mind. 'Faster than a speedingVincent, more powerful than a locomotive, able to lift huge kettleswith a single arm'. Well& OK that was
"Thank you, Catherine. Why don't you go and eatnow? There won't be many more coming, it's getting late." William'sgruff voice held warmth that had been absent when she had begun thiswork shift in the kitchen. At first she had sensed his nervousnessaround her, but the last few days of working together had done muchto ameliorate his fears. She had to hand it to Father, this had beenhis idea, and it seemed he certainly knew how to handle William. Sheand William had each gained a new respect for the other. The sheerlogistics of feeding a large crowd with limited means had amazed her,as did the amount of planning necessary. Tonight's dinner would berecycled, with some minor additions, into tomorrow's lunch soup.Waste was not an option Below.
Catherine filled a bowl with the delicious beefstew. Several slices of fresh buttered bread and a glass of milk wereadded to her tray. She had to wince at the large portion she hadladled out for herself. Her appetite had never returned to its formerdiminutive state. It seemed her new body needed more fuel that it hadin the past. 'Oh well', she thought as she surreptitiously tweakedanother slice of bread onto her tray.
Turning to the long trestle tables, she spiedJamie and Mouse. The two had come in late, probably delayed by somenew scheme. Most people assumed that Mouse was the only culpritbehind the quest for better gizmos. It would surprise many to knowthat quite often it was Jamie and her search for better securityprocedures that had instigated several of Mouse's projects. Over thelast few months, and especially since she had proven so effectivewith her crossbow during the incident which had cost Winslow's life,Jamie had become more involved in helping Vincent plan and overseetunnel security. During Vincent's illness, she had all but taken overfor him. It would be fair to say that, despite her youth, she waseffectively Vincent's second in command. Catherine would put money onthe fact that Jamie would be elected to the council within the nextcouple of years. Responding to Jamie's wave and Mouse's delightedgrin; she joined them at their table.
Vincent stopped just inside the dining hallentrance. He had known through the bond that she was here. But he didnot need that connection to announce her presence, even in a roomthis size. Nothing could have prepared him for it. Like a deer caughtin the headlights of an oncoming truck, he stood frozen, thoughts ofanything but her stripped from his mind.
This must stop! Vincent struggled to thinkcoherently, only to be swamped under iron longing. The worldnarrowed, until it held only her. Like velvet chains, her scentwrapped itself around him, and pulled. Sweetly. Softly. Irresistibly.Vincent strove to deny that pull, like a drowning man stillstruggling for the surface even as he sinks. Strove to resist, untilshe raised her head and met his eyes.
Oh, but he was beautiful! His glorious manespilled across his shoulders, softly gathering and reflecting thewarm lantern light with a hazy golden glow. Strength seemed toradiate through him, an imposing presence that could not be denied.Under winged brows, intense blue eyes met hers with an almostelectric shock of connection. Feelings sped through the bond, whichvibrated under their intensity. Feelings of longing, of admiration,of inescapable and limitless desire.
'He likes the way I look. He wants me.'Catherine thought dizzily. As she liked the way he looked, almostfrom the very beginning. As she wanted him. Under the onslaught ofthese simple truths, uncertainties disappeared.
Resistance crumbled.
Panther-like, Vincent strode across the dininghall to Catherine, without once losing eye contact. As he drew closerher scent swirled about him, growing sweeter still as she sensed hisintent. One hand reached out unhesitatingly to rest on her shoulder,and without conscious realization his claws extended, digging intoher collarbones. Through the bond he could feel her helplessresponse.
Oh, delicious! Catherine was held immobile bythe resolve she felt through the bond, and could see reflected in hishot stare. He desired her, and he would have her. Mouth dry,Catherine licked her lower lip, as curls of excitement rolled throughher lower abdomen.
Vincent felt as if he were poleaxed, almostforgetting to breathe. The delicate pink of her tongue running overthat moist, soft lower lip, a minute flash of ivory fang. Theimagined sensation of those teeth softly biting his shoulder and thattongue soothing the spot flashed through his mind, and he felt hisbody tighten and shudder with savage joy. Blue eyes turned hazy ashis lifted his left hand to slide it into her thick mane.
Vibration. As his hands slid up her neck, hecould feel as well as hear the soft, purring rumble shivering throughher body. Beckoning. Instinctively, Vincent responded with a lowanswering growl of his own. Claiming&
"What's wrong?" There was fear in Jamie's voice.Vincent stood to the side of Catherine, and was growling at her likean animal. What was this? Was Vincent getting sick again, going tohurt Catherine again?
Ignoring her question, Vincent and Catherinecontinued to stare at each other, and before Jamie's horrified eyesVincent began to wrinkle his lips back, dropping his jaw to fullyexpose long white fangs.
She was his. He knew it. She knew it. He washers. He could feel her desire to have him, to leave her scent, hermark on his body. Instinct demanded he take her, take her now!Complete the connection&
"Vincent!" Automatically Jamie reached forwardto grab Vincent's arm, shaking him. "Vincent, no
Dimly, Vincent felt the touch of another breakthrough his sensual haze. Another, trying to interfere, to deny themyet again. Who would dare
Female. The challenge was female! Catherine felta searing flash fire of rage crack through her. He was hers! An intense prickling sensation swept down her back, asevery hair on her mane stood on end. Adrenaline screamed throughnerves as she leapt to her feet and readied herself to fight for theright to this male. He was hers!Unconsciously, a harsh roar ripped from her chest as she raised herextended claws to strike down the challenger and shred her toribbons!
Strong arms came around her as Vincent hauledher away, back against him. "No, Catherine. All is well. It's onlyJamie, she meant no harm. Softly, now." The reassuring words andVincent's solid strength projected soothing calm, and through thebond he funneled that same feeling against her howling, instinctiveresponse. Catherine felt the red haze that gripped her dissolve,leaving her shaking violently. Before her, Jamie had collapsedbonelessly to her chair, white faced and wide-eyed. Mouse stoodbeside her, looking terrified.
"What&? I'm sorry. I& didn't realize.Jamie, I'm so sorry." Trembling, Catherine leaned into Vincent.Turning her head to bury it in his chest, she caught William's gaze.He looked away quickly in an unsuccessful attempt to conceal his ownfear.
"Get me out of here, Vincent? Please?"
"I might have killed her! It was as if a part ofme felt she would try to steal you away from me, and I wanted to killher!"
Catherine strode the perimeter of Vincent'schamber, gesturing wildly in agitation, brushing the occasional tearfrom her eyes. How could this have happened? She must be more animalthat she had thought. How could she turn on a friend? Passing by theentrance, she brushed the faded velvet curtain, making it sway. Shehad barely noticed it when she had arrived, sunken in horror at whatshe had almost done.
Finally coming to a stop beside the book-ladentable, she allowed her gaze to settle on Vincent. At her mumbledrequest he had swept her from the chamber, leading her directly here,the place Below where she felt most at home. Once inside, he hadpulled the curtain closed and retreated to lean against the upperlevel ladder.
"These responses are new to you. You did notexpect this."
"How on earth could I ever have expectedthat
"The same way I've lived with it. You learn toanticipate it. You accept that it exists, and control it."
Catherine stopped abruptly. "Is this how youfelt? With Michael? And, oh God, with Elliot?"
Vincent dropped his head, allowing his mane tosweep forward and hide his features. Yes, he had felt that way. Hehad wanted to tear them apart for daring to touch her. That had beenhis struggle. The struggle Catherine could not have truly understood,until now.
"I'm sorry. I didn't understand. I didn't reallyknow how&"
"It is in the past, Catherine. Done. I had noclaim on you; it was not my place to interfere. You had a right to afull life, to the things I could never give you. I understood this.As you must understand now that this is part of who, of what, we are.Many times our reactions may be stronger or different than othersexpect. Our struggle is to control these reactions, so that we canlive with our friends and family in harmony. Self acceptance is onething, but always we must tread that fine line we've discussedpreviously."
As he spoke, Catherine had begun moving again.As she passed nearby, her enticing scent slid to him, through him.Feeling almost dizzy from it, Vincent closed his eyes. 'No. She needscounsel, now.' Giving himself a mental shake, he forced his focusback to her turmoil.
"I didn't do that very well tonight, did I? Justwhen William started to relax around me, something like this has tohappen. And what will I say to Jamie? To Mouse?"
"You have apologized. Perhaps you couldreiterate that tomorrow, when all involved have calmed. Otherwise,there's nothing to be done. It happened. Give William and the otherstime. Eventually this will smooth over." As Catherine began to relaxfurther, Vincent felt the inexorable resurgence of the feelings hehad pushed aside in the dining chamber. Heated eyes followed hercontinuing progress around his chamber with purely masculineappreciation.
Expelling a heavy sigh, Catherine felt the lastof the tension leave her, as she slowed to a halt in front ofVincent. He was right. What was done was done. "How did you get sowise?"
He couldn't help it, he had to laugh. Him? Wise?Hardly.
With a reluctant smile, Catherine looked up andfelt a vise snap closed around her chest. Breathing halted. Vincent'sblue eyes shone dark with barely suppressed passion, and Catherine'sknees trembled under the weight of his regard. His intense gazewandered hotly across her face. Through the bond she could feel theswell and rise of desire. His? Hers? She closed her eyes as ribbonsof sensation cascaded through her body, a delicate shower of needles,sweetly piercing.
His work-roughened hand rose, one fingerextended to touch and stroke up the fur on her nose. Wonderingly heslid it lightly across one winged brow, and moved it down to slipthrough her honey brown mane. It pushed her hair back, exposing thescar that still remained on her cheek.
"Catherine?"
Slumberous gray-green eyes slowly opened andfocused on the beloved golden face looming above her.
"Tell me now if I assume too much. Tell me now,while I can still—"
Delicate clawed hands rose to slide behind hisneck, spearing through the thick mass of mane. Rising on her toes,Catherine gave her answer. Softly, her muzzle brushed against his,the masculine fur like velvet under her sensitive skin. Her lower lipslipped moistly across his, following the progress of her tongue, asshe licked upwards under the pads of his upper lip to glide acrossthe underside of his cleft. Softly, she repeated the motion; astrange, dragging kiss unconsciously designed to accommodate theirunique facial structures. .
Vincent felt his breath stutter and stop at theincredible electric sensation. Emotions battered him. Her desire forhis touch, here and now. The knowledge he had always craved yetfeared. And he was so tired of resisting her, so tired of denyinghimself, denying the reality and rightness of this. Automatically hestiffened as she swayed forward to press against him, and his headsagged back. The feel of her!
"Vincent, please?" Her trembling voice softlybreathed his name, and helpless, Vincent looked back down at thedelicate woman who rested against his body. The wet glisten of theirkisses on her lips almost brought him to his knees. Did he dare? Buther hands were tugging him downward, the scent of her desire wrappingaround his senses. Everything he was cried out for this, and met anecho of desperate longing from her.
He was lost.
Catherine felt the hand buried in her hair slidefurther inward to cup the back of her head firmly. An electric joltsnapped through her as his other hand brushed her hip, moving upwardsto her waist, pulling her closer and harder against him. His scentsurrounded her, leather, candle smoke, earth, and that indefinableheady musk that was Vincent's alone. Her eyes drifted shut as hishead lowered slowly, too slowly, to her, his breath whisperingagainst her lips. At the last minute, Vincent tipped her head to theside. Catherine's ragged moan broke the stillness as he copied hersliding moist kiss, the softness of the hair on his chin strokingacross her cheek.
Oh, he had dreamed of this for so long! To feelher kiss, the softness of her lips under his, the feel of her warmbody against him. Long drugging kisses which seemed to last foreveryet were never enough, seeking tongues finding and entwining, tastingeach other. The slick ivory glide of fang against flesh. Ignoring herwhimper of protest, Vincent moved his mouth in a moist caress acrossher cheek to lick the revealed scar, her taste salty sweet on histongue. Gusting pants of breath echoed as he gently nuzzled her ear.Catherine gasped and her claws in his mane flexed in response to hisgentle nip on her earlobe, soothed immediately with a sucking kiss.He sensed faint vibration against his lips only moments beforehearing the low trill of her enticing purr, speaking wordlessly ofher pleasure, confirming the anticipation flowing through thebond.
He shuddered against her, a deep answeringrumble shaking his chest in reaction to her feminine plea. Thatintoxicating facet of her scent, still new yet instinctivelyrecognized, spiraled to engulf him, that note which spoke of herwillingness, of her body's readiness and longing for his.Unconsciously, his hand moved on her back, stroking downwards to cupand lift her more fully against him.
Catherine became aware of the hard ridge ofVincent's primal male response pressing into her belly. Shards ofsensation rained through her abdomen, and Catherine arched her back,only wanting to be closer, to feel his flesh against hers. Anexquisite ache flowered and began to build in that clutching part ofher that readied itself for him, wet and hot. A burst of impatienceat the layers of clothes between them made her growl softly. Itmelted into a shivering sigh as Vincent's mouth glided down herneck.
Against his lips, Vincent could feel the thrumof Catherine's blood pulsing heavily, close to the skin, underliningher purr of rapture. This woman was his. Her scent confirmed it. Thebond verified it. All that remained was his final claim of her.Catherine's desire swirled across the bond to him, through him, asinstinctively she dropped her head to the side to fully expose hersoft throat. Completely at the mercy of spiraling pleasure, Vincentsnapped his fangs against her neck with a menacing growl and boredown firmly.
Catherine felt herself go limp as her entirebeing focused on those four points of delicious pressure, the hotflash of breath against her sensitive skin, the dominant snarl whichspoke of his claim. The wild part of her melted instantly in responseto the viselike grip of his sharp teeth on her neck. Her soft purr ofpleasure stuttered and deepened to a guttural moan of liquidsubmission.
Vincent reveled in the sound. Slackening hisjaw, his tongue slid out to softly bathe the four small red marks onCatherine's neck, eliciting another of those moaning trills ofdelight. The grip of her claws in his mane slackened as she trailedthem down through the thick mass to his shoulders. Their contactended as her progress fetched up against his heavy vest. Growlingagain with impatience, she mindlessly tugged at the offendinggarment. She wanted it off. All of it. As did he.
Vincent's hands crept back up to Catherine'swaist and slipped under her heavy wool sweater to slide against softcotton. Realizing his intent, Catherine lifted her arms and pulledthe sweater over her head. The cool air of the chamber made hernipples stiffen even more, and Vincent was struck dumb by thesight.
How many times had he forced his eyes away fromthis? When she had come to her balcony on a cool evening, clad in theluxurious silk or satin she favored, had she realized what the sightof her curves did to him? The intense desire to touch, to cradle thatexquisite softness in his hand, to bend his head and take thoseenticing points into his mouth, to taste& Even now, he felt alingering hesitation. Until Catherine took his trembling hand inhers, and raised it to enfold a delicate mound.
So soft! So warm and pliant under his callusedpalm. Carefully, oh so carefully he smoothed his hand around her,barely hearing her sensual rumble of encouragement. A clawed thumbleisurely smoothed over a hardened peak repeatedly, each touchcausing a catch in Catherine's breath. Consumed with the desire tosee as well as touch, almost roughly he tugged the T-shirt from thewaistband of her jeans and sent it on the same path as the sweaterhad taken. The light cradle of soft blue lace bra did practicallynothing to hide her enticing curves. Her hands trembling, Catherinereached up and undid the catch between, revealing the breasts thattipped upwards as if begging for his touch, his kiss. The dark roseof her nipples drew him like a magnet.
Catherine jerked helplessly at the touch of hishand on her bare flesh. Soft fur stroked her skin as Vincent ran theback of his hands against the underside of her breasts, lifting them.The rough palms of his hands engulfed the exquisite mounds, wrenchingan explosive gasp from him as he discovered their delicate firmness.Powerless to resist, he lowered his face to brush the soft velvet ofhis cheek across their sensitive surfaces. Her hands fell to hisshoulders, taking a tight grip as she waited breathlessly, dying forthe enveloping warmth of his mouth. A pleading whimper slipped out asthe cleft of his lip slid across her nipple.
Heat. Wet moistness. Catherine felt a shaft ofpleasure so intense it was almost painful arrow down from her leftbreast to sink thorough her groin. To feel his mouth on her, at last!Vincent drew her left nipple into his mouth, circling it carefullywith his rough tongue. Sensation shivered in rippling currentsthrough her as he slid his mouth from her left breast to her right.The hard scrape of a canine slipped across her sensitized flesh. Shelet out a sobbing cry as her knees buckled and she sagged limply intoVincent's iron embrace.
Vincent felt her collapse and caught her close.She was a feast to the senses. Sight, sound, taste, she filled hissoul with light. She loved the feel of his hands, his mouth! Throughthe bond he could feel her intense pleasure, as well as her franticdesire to feel his bare flesh under her hands. How could he deny her?With a low growl, he swept her into his arms and strode swiftly toset her on the side of his bed.
She was consumed with the need to touch him.Feverishly, her hands worked at the ties on his vest, tearing severalin her impatience. As he worked on the layers of shirts her handsswept to the heavy leather belt he wore. The unusual fastening of hisbelt confounded her attempts at removal, and a sharp snarl offrustration burst free. Finally she managed to release the catch andthe belt fell with a heavy thud to the floor. Vincent's hands beather to the fastenings of his heavy denim jeans. He swiftly undid thefour buttons, and pushed down to remove both jeans and underwear.
An unexpected reflexive flash of fear grippedhim. What was he doing? How could he expose his differences to awoman, to any
Another pair of light blue denim jeans landed onthe floor beneath his feet. Seconds later Catherine's blue lace brafell atop it, followed by a matching strip of delicate lace trimmedsatin. Her softly furred hand gently stroked into the line of manearrowing past his navel. Sharp claws creased furrows through hisdense haircoat, sliding upwards. Those hands continued their waythrough the light fur on his abdomen to reach his chest. Here thelong hair was just enough to easily grasp, and with a light tug shepulled him towards her. Lifting his stunned and shy eyes to gaze intoher sultry sea-green depths, he felt a leap of relief. Her light,rippling growl of appreciation settled over him, and banished to thewinds those last lingering shreds of self-doubt that had plagued himall his life.
He was so beautiful! No artist could evercompletely capture the magnificent virility and aura of primal malethat was as natural as breathing to her Vincent. The long golden hairthat wrapped around her fingers was all rough silk, sexy and untamed.Gently she tugged again, drawing him down to the bed beside her.
Her hands had a life of their own, travellingover strong shoulders to bury themselves again into that irresistiblerough blanket of fur that covered his chest. Small male nipples werehidden beneath, but her burrowing fingers sought them out to lightlytease. Vincent's eyes drifted shut in surrender, as for the firsttime he felt the softness of a woman's touch, Catherine's touch. Hisstomach muscles clenched visibly, as she leaned forward to gentlybite the dark flesh of his nipple. Planting a light kiss ofunrepentant apology, she continued her glorious exploration. Strokinghands retraced their path back through the thick fur on his chest andcontinued downwards to where his fur darkened and spread to embracehis manhood.
Catherine felt a rush of heat at the sight, andanother trilling growl of appreciation vibrated forth. Nestled amidstthe red copper curls, his penis reared rock hard and strong. LikeVincent himself, it stood larger than most, above average but notbeyond the scope of what was considered normal. Made much the same asthat of any other man she had known except for the color, the samedark copper of his nipples, a color that was duplicated in the tworich looking globes that hung beneath. Carefully, she slid a fingeralong the base, trailing it lightly to the tip, making him draw adeep hissing breath. The rough glide became smooth and slick as herfinger encountered a drop of moisture at the tip. Softly, she usedits slippery wetness to trace circles around the flared head.
He was going mad. Surely she realized hecouldn't endure this? It was torture! He could not resist lookingdown to watch her stroking him so intimately. It was a dream. Suchcould not be happening, not to him! But the bond confirmed hersensual enjoyment at touching him, touching him there
A low roar shuddered forth as his hands clenchedupon the bedclothes, several sharp claws puncturing the quilt.Understanding his predicament, Catherine eased her way back up thelength of his panting body, pausing for several light nips. The roarhad resolved into a rough rumble, echoing her own.
The scent of her, if such were possible,intensified further. It cried to him of her desire, of her longing.Beckoning, it pleaded for him to ease her pain. Rolling to his side,his large hand smoothed across her belly, which quivereduncontrollably at his touch. Progressing in gradual increments to thesource of that drugging scent, one carefully bent finger furrowedthrough the nest of dark hair at the juncture of her thighs to slipinto the wetness that waited below. Catherine flinched helplessly ashis light touch burned through her.
Enough. Both crumpled beneath the surging,driving need for completion. Restraint shattered, as Vincent movedover his Catherine, his mate. Her welcoming body opened beneath him,her calves stroking desperate encouragement against the back of histhighs. Blue eyes darkened to midnight met stormy green in mutualassent. Both moaned uncontrollably at the touch of his manhoodagainst her readiness. Catherine angled her hips to facilitate hislength as with an uncompromising thrust he slid deeply inside. Now,and forever his, as he was hers.
It was not slow, this first loving. Not tender.Each had waited too long, too many lonely nights and years, for thismoment. It was passionate. It was desperate. It was relentless.Pleasure for one was pleasure for both as the bond looped sensationfrom one to the other, from the tiniest shiver to depthless raginghunger for more, stronger, deeper!
Perhaps it began with Vincent, perhaps not. Athick moaning growl built slowly and ripped from his chest astogether they experienced pleasure so intense it bordered on pain. Ina roaring crescendo of completion, it seemed as if his very essencesurged into Catherine's welcoming heat. The cataclysm struck andraged through both equally, mercilessly, shaking them in a hurricaneof anguished release, and cast them out together, spent, onto anunfamiliar shore.